Refrigerating apparatus



J. T. RAUEN REFRIGERATING APPARATUS May 24, 1932.

Filed Sept. 28, 1927 5&3.

gmwmtoz TZW auozmq Patented May 24, 1932 JOHN '1. RAUEN, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR,

PATE

NT orrlca BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T FRIGID- AIRE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE REFRIGERATTN G APPARATUS Application filed September 28, 1927. Serial No. 222,662.

This invention relates to improvements in refrigerator cabinets and more particularly to the construction of doors therefor and the method of making the same.

' It is an object of the invention to simpllfy the construction of refrigerator doors so as to provide a rigid and serviceable structure which will adapt itself readily to rapid quantity production. I

1o- It is another object of the invention to reduce the number of parts required the construction of a refrigerator door and consequently to reduce the cost without sacrificing either the strength or efliciency of the structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a door frame construction adapted to .receive a plate having a brittle coating or finish, such as porcelain enamel, without the necessity of bending or bowing the plate.

. With these and further objects and advantages in view the invention more particularly contemplates the production of a door having a shoulder orprojection formed on a frame 85 thereof and adapted to hold in'place a plate constituting one wall of the door which in turn retains the insplating panel in place.

. Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from-the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention -is clearly shown. e

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a top cross section through the improved door of the invention.

Fig. 2 represents a front view partly broken away to show the rear plate retaining means.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the finished door showing details of construction. v

Referring in detail to the drawings, the door comprises essentially a frame composed of members 10 of which there may be four as shown in Fig. 3 and which maybe joined in any suitable manner as by dovetailing or the like. These end members 10 are providedwith projections or tongues 11 which, when the members are joined together into a frame, provide an internally extending flange somewhat similar to that of a picture frame and which is adapted to receive an enameled or otherwise finished metal plate 12. A lockingstrip or cleat 13 is used for holding the metal plate 12 in position whereupon the cork or other suitable insulating panel 14 may be placed in position after which the outside sheet metal covering 15 is fastened in place. The frame members 10 of the door may have projections 16 similar to flange projections 11 but located as shown in Fig. 1 so that a gasket 17 may be interposedbetween the projecting portion of the frame and the cabinet 18 to serve as a seal against the entry of warm air into the refrigerator. A hinge comprising members 19 and 20 is shown as an illustrative method of attaching the door to the refrigerator and may of course be offset to permit proper seating of the door.

In assembling the door of the invention, the members 10 are first united into a frame, the metal plate 12 destined to face the inside of the refrigerator is then placed so as to be held by the flange frame formed by the projections 11, after which thecleat or retaining members 13 are fastened to the members 10 as by nails 21 or thelike. .This produces a structure analogous to a metal-bottomed wooden trough into which the insulating material 14 such as cork or the like is placed. The metal sheeting destined to serve as the exterior of the door is thereupon placed over the structure and held in able manner.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a-preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A'refrigerator door comprising a frame having an opening, a shoulder on said frame and extending inwardly beyond the walls'of said opening, insulating material within the frame, means enclosing said insulating maposition in any suitterial including a plate insertable into said opening and engaging said shoulder to form one of the side walls of said door, a cover means forming a second side wall of said door, and retaining means secured tothe walls of said opening between said plate and said cover means for retaining said plate in en gagement with said shoulder.

2. A refrigerator door comprising a frame having an opening, a shoulder on said frame and extending inwardly beyond the walls of said opening, insulating material within the frame, means enclosing said insulating material including a plate insertable into said -opening and engaging said shoulder to form one of the side walls of said door, a cover means forming a second side wall of said door, and retaining means secured to the walls of said opening between said plate and said cover means for retaining said plate in engagement with said shoulder, said retaining means having a rectangular cross-section and extending from said plate to said cover means.

3. A refrigerator door comprising a frame having an opening and a shoulder integrally formed on said frame and extending inwardly beyond the walls of said opening, a plate having a brittle coating insertable into said opening and being adapted to engage said shoulder to form one of the side walls of the door, a cover forming a second side wall of the door, and removable retaining means between said plate and said cover for maintaining engagement between said plate and said shoulder.

4. A unitary cover for an opening in a refrigerated cabinet comprising a body member composed of insulating material having an outwardly extending top flange and an inwardly extending bottom flange, a bottom cover plate supported upon said bottom body flange, a top cover plate bent around said top body flange, and insulation means within said body intermediate said cover plates.

5. A unitary cover for an opening in a refrigerated cabinet comprising a body member composed of insulating material having an inwardly extending bottom flange, a bottom cover plate supported by said bottom body flange, a top cover plate, and insulation material intermediate said plates.

6. A cover for a refrigerated cabinet comprising a sleeve of heat insulating material provided at one end with a continuous inwardly projecting flange and at the other end with a continuous outwardly projecting flange, a member adapted to close one end of said sleeve and secured in position by means of said inwardly projecting flange, a sheet metal member adapted to close the other end of said sleeve and having its peripheral edge bent around said outwardly projecting flange, and a body of heat insulating ma terial disposed Within said sleeve.

. In testimony whereof I hereto affix my signature.

JOHN T. RAUEN. 

